Well device



sept.22`,1942. H, C, ons y Re. 22,180

WELL DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 27, 195'? Ressued Sept. 22, 1942Herbert C. Otis, Dallas, Tex.

Original No. 2,196,535, dated April 9, 1940, Serial No. 165,848,September 27, 1937. Application for reissue April 4, 1941, Serial No.386,951

24 Claims.

This invention relates `to new and useful improvements in well devices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device arranged tobe lowered into the well tubing and having means for automaticallyshutting off the flow through the tubing when the velocity of the flowexceeds a predetermined rate.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved devicewhich may be positioned at any point within a well tubing and havingmeans, which may be automatic, for shutting oi the flow through saidtubing; said means being exposed to the well fluid and being arranged tobe actuated when the forces created by thev well fluid acting againstsaid means are sufficiently unbalanced to cause movement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of thecharacter described wherein the Well fluid flows through a iiow passageprovided in said device, with a movable valve for controlling the flowthrough said passage; said valve being so arranged that as long as thevelocity of flow of the fluid through the passage is at a normal orpredetermined rate the valve remains in an open or inactive position andis arranged to close when the velocity of iiow is A constructiondesigned to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described,together with other features of the invention.

" of the valve which is located at the lower end increased above suchnormal or predetermined rate.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved devicehaving a movable valve element exposed to the Well fluid, and means forrestricting the flow of well fluid through the device so that a pressuredifferential is set up across the element; the element being soconstructed that it is actuated by a predetermined pressure differentialto shut off iiow through the device.

,A further object of the invention is to provide l a well device of thecharacter described including scribed which may be run into and removedfrom the'well tubing on a wire line or cable and which may be readilypositioned at any point within the tubing or removed therefrom withoutremoving the tubing.

of the device, showing the valve in its,closed position,

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, with the releasemeans forequalizing the pressures across the valve engaging said valve,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line '4--4of Figure l, and

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of a modified. formofV valve cage.

In the drawing, the Inumeral ID designates an elongate mandrel having anaxial bore`l Ii extending therethrough. The upper portion of the outersurface of the mandrel is substantially cylindrical and a slipsupporting sleeve I3 is slidable longitudinally on this portion. Thesleeve is formed with an outwardly directed, annular flange i4r at itsupper end and an external vcollar i5 is preferably made integral withits lower end. The collar has a plurality of radial slots i6 therein,which slots are spaced equidistant therearound and the upper ends ofgripping elements il are inserted within the slots. A retaining'rin'g i8which surrounds the collar prevents outward displacement of the elementsfrom said slots. Manifestly, the gripping elements are suspended fromthe sleeve i 3 and are movable with relation to the mandrel. Forlimiting the movement of the sleeve on the mandrel the latter is formedwith an external flange I9, preferably integral therewith. As clearlyshown in Figure 1, this flange is slotted to permit the grippingelements I1 to extend therethrough. A confining ring 20 surrounds theflange and confines the elements within the slots of said flange,whereby the gripping elements are retained in close proximity to theouter surface of the mandrel. l

Immediately below the flange I9, the surface of the mandrel is flared orinclined outwardly to form a slip expanding portion 2 I. element I1includes an arcuate slip 22 at its lower end and the inner surfaces ofthe slips engage and Each gripping ride upon the inclined surface 2|ofthe mandrel.I The outer surface of each slip is 4formed with grippingteeth 23 which are adapted to engage the inner wall of the well tubing Ato vprevent upward displacement or movement of the slips and mandrel.When the slips 22 are at the upper end of the inclined portion 2| andimmediately below the flange i9 they are retracted and out of engagementwith the tubing wall; however, movement of the slips downwardly withrelation to the mandrel ID causes the outward radial movement thereof tothe position shown in Figure 1, wh'ereby said slips engage the tubingwall to hold the mandrel in position.

Below Ithe slip-expanding or inclined surface 2| the mandrel is formedwith a reduced shank 24,

whereby an external annular shoulder 25 is provided. A plurality ofelastic packing cups 25 surround the shank, being spaced from each otherby suitable spacing collars or rings 2-1. The uppermost cup abuts theshoulder 25 and the cups and spacers are retained on the shank by atubular valve cage or,` housing 28 which is threaded onto the lowerendof the shank. Normally, there is a clearance between the cups and wallof the tubing but when the device is set within said tubing, as will beexplained, the well fluid pressure below the. device acts upwardlyagainst the packing cups to deform the same into sealing vengagementwith the wall of the well tubing, whereby the annular space between thewell tubing and the mandrel is-sealed off. g

The bore 29 of the valve cage 23 is reduced at its lower portion asshown at 30, whereby an in-` ternal annular shoulder 3| is formed withinthe cage. An inwardly directed flange 32 is preferably made integralwith the cage and is located at the extreme lower end of the same, theaxial opening or hole formed by the flange establishing communicationbetween the area outside the body and the lower end of the bore of saidbody. Above the shoulder 3| a plurality of elongate vertical slots oropenings 33 extend through the wall of the cage and establishcommunication between the well tubing A- and the bore of the valve cage.'I'he slots are preferably of a suflicient cross-sectional area topermit an unrestricted flow through the mandrel; however, if desired,they may be reduced in area to restrict the flow to a predeterminedrate. The size and shape of said slots is subject to variation.

A valve 34 is slidable within the bore of the cage and includes a valvehead 35 which is movable within the upper portion 29 of the bore. Thehead .is substantially frusta-conical and is adapted to engage anannular seat 33 which is formed at the lower end of the bore of themandrel. A reduced shank 31 depends from the head, being preferablyrintegral therewith, and said shank is slidable in the reduced portion33 ofthe bore of the valve cage'. When the valve is in a loweredposition (Figure l) the head 35 rests on the internal shoulder 3| withinthe valve Acage and a flow of well uid from the tubing `A through theslots 33 and into the mandrel bore Il is permitted; however, when thevalve moves' to its upper positionA (Figure 2) the head 35 engages theseat 36 to shutoff the flow from the tubing through the mandrel.

The valve 34 is provided with an axial bore 33 which extends entirelythrough the shank 31 and head 35 and the bore is reduced at its extremeupper end to form an internal annular shoulder or seat 39within thehead. Since the valve cage 28 has its bore open-at its lower end, itwill be rate.

`upward jarring also shears the pins obvious that the well fluid mayiiow upwardly through the` valve cage and into the axial bore 33 of thevalve.

For closing the bore of the `valve 34, 'a ball or other :alve 43 isarranged to engage the seat 33 within the valve head. The ball rests onarey cessed disk 4| which is engaged by the upper'end pressure toholdthe valve 43 seated, whereby the i bore 33 of the valve is closed.It is noted that the nut 43 is annular so that the bore 33 is open tothe well fluid pressure within the` tubing below the device.

In loweringjhe device into the well tubing, a suitable lowering device(not shown) is connected to the upper end of the mandrel I3 by means ofshear pins (not shown), or other releasable means, which extend throughopenings 44 provided for this purpose. The device is thus suspended fromthe lowering device which is attached to a cable or wire line, and thelowering is continued until the depth at which it is desired to set thedevice'is reached. During the lowering operation the slips 22 merelyride on the surface of the tubing wall but do nottake hold as themandrel is constantly moving ahead of said slips. Before loweringv thedevice, the well control devices which consist of the usual con'- trolvalves, chokes and thelike `(notshown), at

the surface of the well tubing have been closed to shut oif any flowthrough the tubing and, therefore, the device moves downwardly throughthe fluid which might be standing in-the well. The packing cups 23 arein a normal undistorted position whereby there is a clearance betweensaid cups and tubing wall to permit by-passing' of the well fluid Withinthe tubing around the device as it is lowered therethrough.

In order to set the device within the tubing A, a sudden upward pull isexerted on the mandrel I3 by means of the lowering device (not shown).Such upward movement of the mandrel causes the free riding slips 22 tobe moved outwardly by the inclined surface 2|, whereby said slip teethengage the tubing wall. Repeated upward jarring tends to more i'lrmlyset the slips and such (not shown) which extend through the'openings 44in the mandrel, after which the lowering device is removed from the"tubing. that the device could be set in other ways, as for 'example, byconnecting the lowering means to the slip collar I3 and jarringdownwardly.

After the slips 22 have been engaged with vthe tubing wall, the surfacecontrols which control the production of the well, (not shown) areopened to permit the well fluid to flow upwardly through the tubing atthe desiredppredetermined As soon as this flow starts, the packing cups23 are deformed by the well fluid pressure into sealing engagement withthe well tubing. This' fluid pressure may also act against the mandrelI3y to further tightenthe gripping engagement of the slips 22 with thetubing A.'

Further, the well uid pressure may move the valve 34 to its raised orseated position, although in many' instances, the `valve may remain in alowered or open position.

In the event that the valve 34 has been seated,

then to unseat said valve to permit the ow of well uid from the tubing Athrough the slots It'is pointed out 3l inthe valve cage 28 and upwardlythrough the mandrel and tubing thereabove.- a tool having a rod or prong4l is lowered through they tubing and bore ofthe mandrel (Figure 3)This.

rod has its lower end reduced at 48, whereby an external shoulder 4I isformed on said rod. The diameter of the rod is slightly smaller than thebore of the mandrel to permit flow past said rod while the reducedportion 4I is of such size as to permit its entering the upper end ofthe bore Ilot the valve head to engage the ball 4l.

When the device is set within the tubing and the valve 34 is closed, ashas been explained, the well fluid is trapped below the same, wherebyits pressure is exerted against the valve 34 to hold the same in araised position. This pressure is often sufficient to prevent the valve34 being l moved downwardly by merely engaging said valve with a rod orotherdevice lowered from the surface, `and in order to unseat the valveit is first-necessary that the pressures above and below the valve beequalized to some extent. It is to permit this equalization of pressuresthat the ball 4l is provided within the valve I4. Due to the fact .thatthe effective cross-sectional area l of the ball exDOSed t0 the well uidis much less than the effective cross-sectional area of the valve I4,the ball maybe more readily unseated by the jarring action. of theprong.'v

After the rod 45 is lowered through themanthe ball through the rod,whereby said ball is momentarily unseated from the shoulder 39 upon eachjar. This unseating of the ball 40 allows well fluid to escape upwardlythrough the bore of the mandrel and into the tubing thereabove.Therefore, a, pressure will begin to build up above the valve I4 andthis pressure will act against the pressure below thevalve, whereby acondi-4 tion soon occurs Awhich permits the ball valve 4G to be heldentirely open, permitting the rod 45 tov be lowered so that its shoulder41 engages the valve head "3l and moves the. same downwardly.` It isnoted-that other ways of equalizing the lpressures across the valve 34,'such as by-:passing the well fluid from the casing to the bore of thetubing above the valve, may be emn pioyed, in which case the rball 4|Imay be As soon as the valve `34 is moved to the posi-l tion shown inFigure 1, the rod 45 is removed. The 'well controls at the surface arethen opened to "permit anormal or predetermined flow of at the surface,herein referred to, are standard flow of well viluids upwardly throughthe production stringat a desired or predetermined rate.

In some instances, the choke which is connected in the production stringtakes the form of an adjustable' metering valve while in others, saidchoke maybe. a nipple 'having a fixed orifice,

commonlyre'ierred to as a nowv bean. So far as the efficient operationof this invention is concerned the particular construction of the 'chokeor other flow restricting or control de- 'vice, which is mounted in theproduction string,

is unimportant and so longas the well uids norl drel so that its reducedend 46 engages the ball, repeated jarring or hammering is imparted ltoweunuieyupwardiy through the mandrel and tubing. '..It is pointedoutthat the well controls v 3 determined rate under normal conditions,the invention shown herein will operate eulciently. As explained, theusual surface controls remain closed to shut in the well while the welldevice is run in and set and until the'valve 34 is moved to an openposition. The controls are then opened and the usual surface choke (notshown) permits upward flow through the tubing. This flow is such thatthe force created by the fluid above the valve together with the weightof the valve, is sufficient to balance the upward force created by thewell uid below the valve A and therefore, as long as the flow is at anormal or predetermined rate, the valve remains open or unseated anddoes not in any way interfere with the ilow upwardly through themandrel.

It has been found that the well control connections and devices at thesurface of the well sometimes fail orare broken. .This often occurswhere wells are drilled in bodies of water in.

which event the casing and tubing must extend upwardly; through thewater and above theI sur-V face thereof. The casing and tubing, in theseinstances.l may be broken ou under "'ater by passing ships, storms,driftwood, or from other causes .and such"breakage separates the wellcontrol connections: at the surface from the tubing in the hole, wherebythe flowing wellis uncontrolled, because the usual surface choke orrestricting means is, under such conditions, disconnected from theproduction string and unrestricted flow of well fluids from the stringfollows. Not only on underwater wells, but also on other wells,thesurface control connections are subject to breakage or failures.

The valve 34 remains in an open or inactive said valve. However, inr theevent that the ,sur-

face connections fail orare broken, and the restriction of the Vusualsurface choke or control is removed,- then obviously, the flow throughthe tubing above. the-mandrel. Iii is increased, re-

sulting in ain-increased ilow `velocity through the tubing and mandrel.

mediately vsets up or creates an increased force or impact against thelowerendA of the valve, which force or impact is caused by the suddenrushof iiuid upwardlyl against the valve. This increased force or-impact below the valve imme- 'diatelyraises said valve into engagement'with the seat 36- at the lower end of the mandrel', whereby the owis cutofi. Thus, it will be seen that, in the event the surface controls failor are broken, the valve immediately and automatically shuts o@ theflow-.to bring the well under control. The surface controls mayberepaired or replaced, after which Vthe valve 34 is again lowered oropened by the rod 45, or'other means.

The removal of the entire device may be accomplished at any timeibymerely lowering a rethe mandrel causing the mandrel to movedownmallyflow fromthe production string, which' is illustrated hereinis1 the well tubing, at a premoving device (not shown) and engaging thesame'beneath'the shoulder i4on the slip-carrying sleeve il. A downwardjar is then imparted to wardlywith relation to the slips 22 whichpermits 'the slips to move. inwardly to a retracted position todisengage the saine from the tubing. The slips engage beneath the flangeleon the mandrel asthe sleeve is pulled upwardly from the well, wherebysaid mandrel. is carried .upwardly therewith. VThe device may be set ata vdifferent depth within. the tubing, or it may be entirely're- Theincreased velocity im.

moved thv-ehem. The setting and removal may be accomplished by means ofa cable or wireline. It is Pointed out that the action of the valve Il`is automaticin closing oflthe'flow, being controlled by the change inwell conditions which may be due to various causes. j

In Figure 5, a slightly modified form of the invention isshownwhereinopeningsor slots 33' in the valve cage `2l are made of less areathan the slots 33 shown in Figure 1.` The combinedv area of the slots33' is less than the cross-sectional area of' the bore of the mandrel,whereby said slots restrict the flow from the-tubing to the mandrel. Thearea of `the slots 33 is' sufllclent to permit a predetermined rate offlowJ therethrough and as long as such flow continues, the valve 3lremains in its open position. With the valve open and the fluid flowingat such predetermined rate, a pressure differential across the valve isset up, but this differential is not sumcient to close the'valve, theweight of said valve holding the same in its open position. In thev tosecure by Letters l.. A well flowing control device including, an`

elongate unitary support having a flow passage through which the naturalwell fluid is conducted and open while the well is producing under nor-4mal flowing conditions, said passage having a natural-well fluid inlet,and closure means free to move and carried by the support cow-actingwith lthe inlet and passage of the .support and open while the naturalwell fluid is flowing through the inlet and passage under normal flowingconditions, said means having one side exposed to the natural well fluidflowing into the inlet and its other side shut oil' to such flow andexposed to the natural well fluids flowing from source, whereby the saidclosure means is held open during normal flowing conditions and is movedto a closed position to shut olf flow upward through the passage of thesupport when the velocity of flow of the well fluid is abnormallyincreased.

2. A well flowing control device including, an elongate support having aflow passage therethrough for conducting the well fluids while the wellis producing and open under normal flowing conditions, said passagehaving an inlet for the well fluid, means for anchoring said support ina wellcasing, and closure means free to move and carried by the supportand located so that the well uid entering through the inlet flows overthe upperl sideof' said means and the well flui'd from the well exertsits pressure against thetunf derside of said means, said closure meansremaining open under normal owing conditions and free to be closed bythe well fluid upon abnormal increase in the velocity of the flowingwell fluid.

3. A well flowing control device including, an elongate support having aflow` passage therethrough and a valve seat in said passage, saidsupDOrt having an inlet for the fluid from the well to said passagebelow and adjacent said valve seat, and a valve carried by the supportbelow the valve seat and free to move, said valve being normally openwith its upper side exposed to the also `\we1l uuid entering the inletof the passage, the underside of the valve when open being shut of! fromthe well fluid flowing through the inlet and l into the passage andexposed to well iluidflowing from source, said valve being free to bemovedto close against the seat when,the velocity of flow of the 'wellfluid increases beyond a predetermined rate.

4. A well flowing control 'device removably mounted within a well tubingand including, a tubular support, means carried by the support forsealing off' between said support and tubing, said support having anopening therein disposed below'the sealing means whereby the flow ofwell fluid yfrom below said sealing means passes through said openingand upwardly through said support, a valve normally open while the wellis producing and carried bythe support below sald opening and having itslower end exposed to the well fluid flowing from source, itsupper endbeing exposed to the natural well fluid flowing through the support,said valve being disposed and constructed to resist movement by aflowing natural Well fluid under normal flowing velocity, but to bemovedupwardly and closed by a flow of natural well fluid of excessivevelocity.

5. A well flowing control device removably mounted within a well tubingincluding, a tubular support, means for sealing off between saidsupport-and tubing, and a valve `normally open while the weil isproducing and carried by the support below the sealing means forcontrolling the flow of the natural well fluid through said support,said support having an opening .above the valve and below the sealingmeans whereby the said well fluid may flow upwardly through the supportand also having an opening below the` valve, whereby the valve has itsopposite sides exposed to the natural well fluid flowing through thesupport and the well fluid below said valve, said valve beingconstructed andarranged to remain open under predetermined normal wellflowing conditions and automatically closing when the velocity of saidflow through the support exceeds a predetermined rate to change such owconditions, and means for reopening said valve with the device mountedwithin the well tubing. Y

6. A well flowing `control device removably mounted within a well tubingand including, a tubularmandrel, means `carried by the mandrel forsealing off between said mandrel and tubing, said mandrel having anopening therein disposed below the sealing means whereby the flow ofwell fluid from below the sealing means passes through said opening andupwardly through they mandrel, a valve seat within the mandrel abovesaid opening, a valve normally open while the well is producing'andwithin the mandrel adapted to engage said seat to cut off the flow ofthe natural well fluid through the mandrel, said valve being locatedbelow the opening so that its upper side is exposedy to theV naturalwell fluid flowing .through `the mandrel.- the lower side of the valvel,being exposed to the wellufluid below said valve, y

said valve being disposed and constructed to re.-

sist movement by a flowing natural well fluid 7. A well flowing controldevice removably mounted within a well tubing and includingpa tubularmandrel, means carried by the mandrel for sealing oi'l between saidmandrel and tubing, said mandrel having an opening therein disposedresumed.

below the 'sealing means whereby the flow of well uid from below saidsealing means passes through said opening and upwardly through themandrel, a valve seat within the mandrel above.

said opening, a valve normally open while the well is producing andwithin the mandrel adapted to engage said seat to cut oi! the ilow ofthe natural well uid through the mandrel, said valve and connected withthe support and actuated by the ilowing natural well iiuids ior shuttlngoir the flow through said passage when a predeterbeing located below theopening so that its upy per side is exposed to the said fluid flowingthrough the mandrel, the lower side of the valve being exposed to thenatural well fluid below said valve, said valve being constructedI andarranged to remain open under predetermined natural well flowingconditions and automatically closing. when the velocity of ilow ofnatural well nuid through the mandrel exceeds a predetermined point tochange such natural well flowing conditions, the sudden increase in ilowvelocity causing an impact against the lower side of the valve whichimmediately moves said valve to its closed position, and means forreopening said valve with the device mounted within the well tubing.

8. A well flowing control device including, a' mandrel having a ilowpassage therethrough, means for-sealing, H between the device anda minedabnormal tiow of the natural well iiuid occ urs in said passage, andmeans for causing said shut-on means to open to resume said flow. o

l2. A well device arranged to be located within y the bore of a wellincluding, a support having a well casing, means kfor anchoring thedevice in a well casing, the passage of the mandrel having a valve seat,the mandrel having an inlet below the valve seat, a valve support havingan inlet for the well fluid-below the inlet to the'eya valve resting onsaid support below said valveseat when open and free to move to closethe discharge end of the inlet to said support, the upper side oi saidvalve being exposed to the well uid ilowing through the inlet to thepassage, whereby saidvalve remains open during a normal ilow oi the welliluid, said valve being free to close upon an increasedy iiow velocity,and means freely movable down through the well tubing for unseating saidvalve.

9. A well flowing control device including, a

mandrel having a ilow passage therethrough..

means for sealing oif between the device and a well casing, the passageoi the mandrel having avalve seat, the mandrel having an inlet below Q,the valve seat, a valve support having an inlet for thewell fluid belowthe inlet to the passage, a

l f valve resting on said support below vsaid valve seat when open andfree to move to close the discharge end of the inlet to said support,the upper side of said valve being exposed to the well fluid ilowingthrough the inlet to the passage, whereby said valve remains open duringa normal flow of the well iiuid, said valveA being free lto close uponan increased flow velocity, a spring. pressed valve mounted in theilrst-named valve, and means freely. movable. down through/the welltubing to engage both valves for unseating the same. o

' vl0. A well flowing control device arranged to be locatedwithinthebore of a flowing well including, a support having means forsealing itin' a well tubing and la. iiow passage therethrough, means`normally open while the well is producing and connected with thesupport and actuated by the iiowing natural well fluids for shuttingoiithe `flow through said passage when a predetermined abnormal ilowofthe natural well fiuidoccurs in' said passage, and a valve within saidshut-o3 means adapted to be operated from vthe surface oi' the welltoueiect the opening of said shut-ot! means so that the natural wellilow may be 11. A wen iniwingcontmll deviamnged to be rs `15.a wendevice-arranged to `be located withinA flow passage therethrough, avalve cage at the lower end of said support, a valve member within saidcage normally in a position to maintain the iiow passage open while thewell is producing for controlling the ilowfor natural well iluidtherethrough, said valve cage having an opening therethrough fordirecting nuid past the valve member as it flows through said ilowpassage with the valve remaining open to permit saidv flow through thesupport under normal well flowing conditions, and said valve cage havingan opening communieating with the under side oi' said valve memberwhereby the valve will be moved to its closed po' sition to cut oil.'said ilow of the natural well fluid when the velocity o! ilow throughthe support exceeds a predetermined.` velocity to change such flowconditions.

i3. A well device arranged to be located within the bore ot a wellincluding, a support having a i valve member whereby the valve will bemovedA to its` closed position to cut of! said ow o! the natural welliluid when the velocity of now through the support exceeds apredetermined velocity to change such ilow conditions, wherein thevelocity diiierentials in pressure acting on the valve is controlledbythe ratio of said iluid openings in the valve cage with respect to eachother'.

14. A well device arranged to be located within the bore oi' a wellincluding, a support having a iiow passage therethrough, a valve cage-at thei lower end of said support, a valve member within said cagenormally in a position to maintain the ilow passage open while the wellis producing `for controlling the ilow of natural wellfiuid there-`through, said valve cage having an opening therethrough for directingthe uid past the valve member as it ilows through said flow passage withthe valve remaining open to permit said iiow through the support undernormal well owing conditions, and said valve cage having an openingcommunicating with the under side of said valve member whereby the valvewill be moved to its closed position tocut oil said flow of the naturalwell iluid when the velocity o! ilow through the support exceeds apredetermined'velocity to change suchiiow conditions, wherein thevelocity diii'erentials in pressure acting on'the valve for closingtheilow passage is determined' by varying the restrictions oi' the cageopening tothe iiow of well uid through the device.

6 the bore cfa well including, a support having a flow passagetherethrough, a valve cage at the lower end of "said support, a valvemember within said cage normally in a position to maintain the flowpassage open while the wellv is producing for controlling the dow ofnatural well fluid there- 4through, said valve cage having an openingtherethrough for directing the fluid past the valve e member as it flowsthrough said ilow passage with the valve remaining open to permit .saidiiow through the support under normal well flowing conditions, and saidvalve cage having an opening communicating with the under side of saidvalve member whereby the valve willbe moved to its closed position tocut oi said iiow of the'natural y well fluid when the velocity of flowthrough the support exceeds a predetermined velocity to change such flowconditions, said valve member path of iiow through saidpassageway'adapted `to be closed' when the now through said passagewayexceeds a predetermined rate.

20. In combination with a flowing well, a passageway leading from thebottom thereof, and means for preventing `more than a predeterminedsubstantial rate of flow'upwardlythrcugh.

said passageway, comprising an upwardly closing valve in saidpassageway, which valve remains open during substantial upflow not"exceeding said predetermined rate of flow and is closedby a velocity ofiiow exceedingsaid predetermined rate. f

271.' A Well flowing control device arranged to be disposed within theybore of aflowing well having a surface flow control and including, a

` supporting member having a ilow passage having a fluid passagetherethrough with a restricted opening in line with the ow passage,

through the support, and a valve within said valve member yieldinglyheld in position to close said restricted opening in the valve memberand accessible through the iiow passageway in the support to beopened'by an operating rod when the valve member closes the flow passageso as tore-establish the passageway through the device and efl'ectlamovement of thevalve member l to open position.

16. A well device arranged tobe located within the bore of a wellincluding, a support having a flow passage therethrough with a largeorifice, means controlled by theflow of fluid therethrough for closingthe passage when the velocity of iiow through the support exceeds apredetermined velocity as in the case of a. blowout, and means.thereafter for controlling the fluid flow through a smaller orifice.

17. A flow' controlling device having means for removably anchoring itin a well flow tubing and including, a support having means for sealingit in a well tubing and provided with a flow passage. therethrough, saidsupport having a valve seat contiguous to its iiow passage and providedwith a passage below said seat for admitting natural well fluid fromsource, and a valve carried by the support below said seat and movableup to said seat to shut oil? flow through the flow passage of thesupport, said valve being disposed in and co-acting with said support soas to lresist upward displacement by the well fluid flowing from sourcewhen said fluid is being discharged from the well under a predeterminednormal flowing `velocity and to be moved upwardlyto engage said seat andcut oi flow of `the well fluid through the tubing when the iiow from thetubingl exceeds the said normal iiowing velocity.

1K8. A well flow control device as set forth in claim 17 wherein thevalve has a flow passage normally closed, and means controllable fromthe vtop of the well for opening said valve passage.

19` In combination with a owing well, a casing within said well and a'tubing within said casing, a packer surrounding said tubing and adaptedto form a sealing engagement with said casing, means providingavpassageway through said packing, and a normally open valve in thethrough which the well fluids are conducted, and valve means carried bythe supporting member and co-acting with said passage to control owthrough the passage and `normally open while the well is producing, saidmeans being disposed to be actuated by the flowing well fluids toshutolifl flow `through the passage when a predetermined abnormal upward owof the well uid occurs in said passage.

22. A well flowshut-oif device having means for connecting it in theflow line of a well having 'a surface fiuidfiow control connected in itsflow line and including, a passageway adapted to be connected to theflow line of the well, and valve means forpreventing more than apredetermined substantial' rate of flow upwardly through said passagewayincluding an upwardly closing valve co-acting with said passageway,which valve remains open during substantial upward flow of the fluid notexceeding said predetermined rateof flow and is closed by a velocity offlow exceeding said predetermined rate.

23. In a well iiow shut-off device adapted to be mounted in the flowline of a Well, means for preventing more than a predetermined rate offlow of fluid upwardly through the well flow line having a valve seatand including an upwardly closing valve for engaging saidseat, whichvalve is sufficiently heavy to remain open during substantial upwardflowof the fluid not exceeding said predetermined rate of flow and isdisposed so as to be closed against said seat by a velocity of flowexceeding said predetermined rate.

24. A well flow shut-off device having means for connecting it in theflow line of a well and including, a body having a iiow passage forconnection with the flow line of the well, a valve seat,ja movable valvemember closing against said seat and sufliciently heavy to remain openduring substantial upward iiow of fluid through said passage beyond saidseatfnot exceeding a predetermined rate, and means in advance of saidseat proportionedto permit flow of fluid through said passage while saidpredetermined flow rate is maintained and when said rate of flow beyondsaid seat increases and creates a predetermined pressure variationacross said valve member the pressure of the fluid in advance of saidmeans moves said valve member to close against said seat. 1

' HERBERT C. OTIS.

